The "Whiskey" Route
Machame Route
Kilimanjaro's most popular route: rainforest, the Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall.
Photo: KpokeJlJla, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Duration
- 6–7 days
- Distance
- 62 km
- Summit
- 5,895 m
- Sleeping
- Camping
- Crowds
- Busy
- Difficulty
- Challenging
The Machame Route climbs Kilimanjaro from the south-west in 6–7 days, through every climate zone, with a "walk high, sleep low" day at the Lava Tower and the famous Barranco Wall.
The Machame Route is the route most people picture when they think of climbing Kilimanjaro. It starts at Machame Gate on the mountain's wet south-western slopes, climbs through dense rainforest to the Shira Plateau, traverses beneath the southern glaciers and summits from the east. About 62 km long, it is nicknamed the "Whiskey" route because it is tougher than the hut-based Marangu ("Coca-Cola") route.
Why the Machame Route Works
Machame's great strength is its shape. On day three you climb to the Lava Tower at 4,630 m, then drop to sleep at Barranco Camp at 3,960 m. This "walk high, sleep low" day is the single best thing you can do to prepare your body for the summit, and it is built into the route. The seven-day version adds a night at Karanga Camp, which splits the long day before the summit in two and noticeably improves summit success.
The Barranco Wall
The morning after Barranco, the trail climbs the Barranco Wall, a 257 m rock face that looks far harder than it is. It is a scramble, not a technical climb: you use your hands in places, there is one step known as the "Kissing Rock", and it takes one to two hours. For many climbers it is the most enjoyable part of the whole trek.
Summit and Descent
From high camp the route climbs through the night to the crater rim at Stella Point (5,756 m), then follows the rim for about 45 minutes to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). The descent is by the Mweka Route, straight down the southern slopes to Mweka Gate, so you never retrace your steps.
Why Choose This Route
- A built-in "walk high, sleep low" day at the Lava Tower (4,630 m)
- The Barranco Wall scramble, with views across to Mount Meru
- All five of Kilimanjaro's climate zones in a single climb
- A different way down: descent by the Mweka Route
Good to Know
- It is the busiest route on the mountain, especially June to October
- Camping only: there are no huts on this route
- The six-day version skips Karanga Camp and has a lower summit success rate; we recommend seven days
- Our climbs summit from Kosovo Camp (4,800 m), a permit-only camp above Barafu that shortens summit night by about an hour.
Route Map
Map of the Machame Route
The trail as it runs on the ground, with every gate, camp and high point. Press a place in the list to find it on the map.
Altitude
Altitude Profile
How high you climb, and where you sleep. Dips in the line are "walk high, sleep low" days, which help your body adjust.
Day by Day
Machame Route Itinerary
This is the plan we follow on our Kilimanjaro Machame Route – 7 Days.
Drive from Arusha to Machame Gate, register and set off through dense rainforest on a steady, well-made trail to the first camp at the edge of the forest.
Overnight: Machame Camp
Leave the forest behind and climb a rocky ridge through giant heather onto the Shira Plateau, with views of Kibo and, across the clouds, Mount Meru.
Overnight: Shira Cave Camp
A key acclimatisation day: climb to the Lava Tower for lunch, then descend into the Barranco Valley, where giant groundsels grow beneath the Breach Wall.
Overnight: Barranco Camp
Scramble up the Barranco Wall, then cross the ridges and valleys of the southern circuit to Karanga Camp, with the glaciers of Kibo close above.
Overnight: Karanga Camp
Climb through alpine desert past Barafu to Kosovo Camp, the highest base camp, which shortens summit night. An early dinner and rest before the summit attempt.
Overnight: Kosovo Camp
Wake around midnight and climb by headlamp from Kosovo Camp up the scree slopes to Stella Point on the crater rim, reaching it as the sun rises over Mawenzi. From there it is about an hour along the rim, past the glaciers, to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After photos at the summit, descend to Mweka Camp in the forest for a well-earned dinner and rest.
Overnight: Mweka Camp
A final walk down through the rainforest, often with colobus monkeys in the trees, to Mweka Gate. Collect your summit certificate, say goodbye to the crew and drive back to Arusha for a hot shower and a celebration dinner.
Overnight: Arusha
Good to Know
Machame Route: Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Machame Route? +
About 62 km from Machame Gate to Mweka Gate, walked in six or seven days. We recommend seven days, with an extra night at Karanga Camp.
Is the Barranco Wall dangerous? +
No. It is a 257 m scramble where you use your hands in places, but no ropes or climbing skills are needed, and guides help at every awkward step. It takes one to two hours.
Why is it called the Whiskey Route? +
Because it is harder than the Marangu Route, which is nicknamed the Coca-Cola Route. Machame is steeper, longer and camping-only.
Are there huts on the Machame Route? +
No. Machame is a camping route. On our climbs you sleep in four-season mountaineering tents, with a private toilet and shower tent for your group.
Compare
Other Routes up Mount Kilimanjaro
7–8 days
We climb this
Lemosho Route
The most beautiful way up: a quiet western start across the Shira Plateau.
- Distance
- 70 km
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Sleeping
- Camping
- Crowds
- Moderate traffic
5–6 days
The "Coca-Cola" Route
Marangu Route
The only Kilimanjaro route with mountain huts instead of tents.
- Distance
- 72 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Sleeping
- Mountain huts
- Crowds
- Busy
6–7 days
We climb this
Rongai Route
The quiet northern approach, from the Kenyan border side.
- Distance
- 73 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Sleeping
- Camping
- Crowds
- Quiet
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